in elevation from the town of Linville to the summit of Grandfather Mountain.įriday, Saturday and Sunday are filled with competition in heavy-weight Scottish athletic events, highland dancing, bagpipe band parades, piping, drumming and harp competitions sheep herding demonstrations by Scottish border collies and concerts featuring a wide variety of Celtic music. Prior to the torchlight ceremony, 800 people run a 5-mile footrace called “The Bear” that climbs 1,568 ft. The opening ceremonies begin at dusk with a torchlight ceremony where representatives of each of the 100 clans and 16 societies announce their family’s participation in the gathering. Bring a picnic dinner or buy concessions at the Meadows to enjoy during the evening events during the least crowded day. The Highland Games begin Thursday afternoon with a border collie sheep herding demonstration, Celtic entertainment and the running of “The Bear”. Thousands of Scots are dressed in tartan plaids, and the energy is amplified by the sounds of bagpipes and kettledrums echoing. Grandfather Mountain tower above a grassy green meadow ringed by 170 colorful tents.

The Grandfather Games are considered America’s grandest Games because of the spectacular mountain setting that is so reminiscent of Scotland. Stay in nearby Banner Elk with plenty of other things to do. The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans bring the color of hundreds of tartan plaids, athletic competitions, food, music and the clamor of bagpipe bands to the North Carolina mountains.

Scottish highland games winter springs